Spring Warrior Church of Christ

7432 S. Red Padgett Road

Perry, FL 32348
584-5176

WHAT wOULD JESUS dO? No.

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JESUS WOULD NEITHER USE PROFANE LANGUAGE NOR SAY MEAN,

HURTFUL THINGS
By Todd L. Baker

Jesus said that "the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the
heart, and they defile the man" (Matthew 15:18).

Jesus is considered by nearly everyone as a “good man.” What traits made Him a
“good man” in most people’s eye? For one, Jesus would not use profane language, nor
say mean, hurtful things. Do not be mistaken, this does not mean that Jesus would not
speak out against sin for fear of how He may be perceived by His peers or the elite of His
day. Jesus indeed spoke the truth, but in a loving, caring, concerned manner.

“Profane” is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “not sacred, secular, heathen,

showing contempt of sacred things, to violate, desecrate, to put to an unworthy use.”
Most folks would agree that given this definition, to profane something is not a Christian
quality. To say mean, hurtful things is done for only one purpose: to hurt someone by
making him look bad or by making oneself look good. This is also something that is not
a Christian quality. Let’s look at some examples of how Jesus did speak.

First of all, Jesus often spoke by quoting or referencing Scripture. In order to do

this, it is impossible to use profane language. For example, consider how Jesus answered
the tempter after fasting for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God.’” ”On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the
test.’” ”Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve
Him only’” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Given these types of answers, should we also not seek
God’s word as guidance for how to answer when we are tempted?

Throughout the gospels, Jesus showed in His speech that He was often motivated
by compassion. Thus, His speech was seasoned with concern for those around Him.
Examine how He spoke to the leper (one who would have been shunned and put down in
Jesus’ day) in Mark 4:41: “Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and
touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’” Should we also not strive to
season our speech with compassion and concern for all souls around us?

Jesus avoided idle, unproductive talk. All that Jesus spoke had a purpose - to
teach us how to obtain salvation through Him because He does not want any to perish.
“So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish”
(Matthew 18:14). Jesus did not spend His effort using speech to gain any worldly
position or popularity; He also did not spend His effort using speech in order to be
“political.” Paul followed Jesus’ example when he admonished the young preacher
Timothy, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
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and their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:16-17a).

Jesus spoke words of comfort and hope to His disciples. Consider how He spoke
in John 15:12-17: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have
loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
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You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you slaves, for
the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose
Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to
you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.” These are all words of love and
comfort to all of His disciples because of His concern for their souls. Should we also not
seek to encourage those around us with our speech, to always strive to the best of our
ability to live for God and to love one another?

The decision is up to you. Will you do what Jesus did and avoid profane, mean
and hurtful speech?

This article is reprinted online at http://www.bibleweb.com.